Over the course of his career, he collected more gold and platinum albums than any other Australian artist.
Dusty not only recorded songs written by himself and other fellow Australian performers, but also recorded classic Australian poems by Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson with new tunes, to call attention to the old 'Bush Ballads.' An example is The Man from Snowy River by Paterson.
In 1970, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. In 1971 he won Best Single at the Australian Country Music Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival (Slim's wife Joy McKean won Song of the Year as writer of the song for which he won best single). In all, he won a record 35 "Golden Guitars" over the years.
He died at home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 after a protracted battle with cancer, at age 76.
The Slim Dusty Story started back in the 1940s on a remote dairy farm in the hills behind Kempsey, NSW, when a 10-year-old boy dreamed of being a country music singer. His name was David Gordon Kirkpatrick... he called himself "Slim Dusty" and began to live that dream.
But even the most optimistic farm boy would never have imagined the life that was to unfold... a life that would establish Slim as the voice of the nation, the chronicler of Australian history in song.
Slim managed to hold on to those early visions of writing and singing about the bush because during his lengthy career, he always stayed in touch with his audience. And he did this in a very real and meaningful way, so much so that his fans would feel that Slim was one of their mates and his songs "just a good yarn you might hear from a mate at the pub, around a campfire in the bush or at a back yard barbie".
He described his music as "songs about real Australians... "I have to be fair dinkum with my audience. I can't see any other way of doing it," he said. "You have to believe in what you are singing about."
Slim Dusty was the first Australian to have a number one hit record and the only Australian to ever receive a 78rpm Gold Record (for A Pub With No Beer in 1958)...
He was the first Australian to have an international record hit and the first singer in the world to have his voice beamed to earth from space (astronauts Bob Crippen and John Young played Slim's recording of Waltzing Matilda from the space shuttle "Columbia" as it passed over Australia back in 1983).
During an amazingly successful career spanning over six decades, Slims' continued popularity saw him rewarded with more Gold and Platinum Awards for sales of his singles, eight-tracks, cassettes, CD's, videos and DVDs... more than any other Australian artist!
He received an unequaled 37 Golden Guitar Awards, two ARIA's (Australian Recording Industry Association awards), inductions into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown.
Slim was recognized for his long time services to Australian entertainment with an MBE and an Order of Australia. In 1999, Prime Minister John Howard named Slim Dusty Australia's Father of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year. There were many other awards and honors... too many to name here!
Dusty died at his home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 at the age of 76, after a protracted battle with cancer.
Memories And Dreams
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between the future and the past
I'm looking through the things that fade
To the things that really last
The road that I've been traveling
I would not trade for gold
It's helped me choose the path between
You can think about the music
And the good times that we had
You can think about the way we felt
When we had it really bad
But I can't help feeling hopeful
For all the future brings
When I think of joining one more time
In the new songs that we'll sing
One thousand years are over
And a thousand just begun
A man must stand and think about
The things that he has done
And no matter what they tell you
It's not as easy as it seems
To walk the line that lies between
Our memories and our dreams
Let me tell you one more story
Let me sing you one more song
Let's raise another glass to all our friends
Who've come along
Let's talk about the way we were
And the way we're yet to be
And when you're walking towards tomorrow
Keep a weather eye for me
One thousand years are over
And a thousand just begun
A man must stand and think about
The things that he has done
And no matter what they tell you
It's not as easy as it seems
To walk the line that lies between
Our memories and our dreams
To walk the line that lies between
Our memories and our dreams
In Slim Dusty's song "Memories and Dreams," the singer reflects on the past and contemplates the future. He is standing at the horizon, between the future and the past, and he looks through the things that fade to the things that really last. The road that he has been traveling on he would not trade for gold. It has helped him choose the path between the new ways and the old. The lyrics encourage listeners to think about the music and the good times that they have had and to be hopeful about the future.
The chorus of the song "Memories and Dreams" highlights the theme of the song. Slim Dusty sings about the man standing and thinking about what he has done in the past, and no matter what they tell you, it is not as easy as it seems to walk the line that lies between our memories and our dreams. The song closes with Slim Dusty telling one more story, singing one more song, and raising another glass to all his friends who have come along.
This song encourages listeners to reflect on their past, learn from their mistakes, and be hopeful about the future. It is a reminder that life is a journey, and we need to embrace where we have been and where we are going. It is a beautiful song that inspires listeners to live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm here at the horizon
I am currently at a transitional point between my past and future.
Between the future and the past
I am at a boundary where my future will be defined by my past and present.
I'm looking through the things that fade
I am inspecting all the memories that are slowly disappearing over time.
To the things that really last
I am relating to the everlasting memories that will stay with me forever.
The road that I've been traveling
The experiences I've had in my life so far.
I would not trade for gold
I wouldn't exchange the journey of my life for anything valuable.
It's helped me choose the path between
The experiences I've had have enabled me to make choices between different directions in my life.
The new ways and the old
Between the unfamiliar new directions and the familiar old paths.
You can think about the music
You can reflect on the good times and the music we enjoyed.
And the good times that we had
Reflecting on the fun times we experienced together.
You can think about the way we felt
You can bring up the feelings we had at the time.
When we had it really bad
Remembering the tough times we faced together.
But I can't help feeling hopeful
Despite the ups and downs in life, I remain optimistic.
For all the future brings
I look forward to what the future holds.
When I think of joining one more time
When I imagine collaborating with my friends again.
In the new songs that we'll sing
I look forward to writing new music and engaging in new experiences with my friends.
One thousand years are over
A millennium has passed.
And a thousand just begun
The next millennium has just begun.
A man must stand and think about
A person needs to reflect on their actions.
The things that he has done
The actions that he has taken out in the world, and in his own life.
And no matter what they tell you
Despite what others say.
It's not as easy as it seems
It's a challenge to balance our memories and dreams.
To walk the line that lies between
The fine balance between the memories and the dreams.
Our memories and our dreams
Reflecting on the past and the future aspirations.
Let me tell you one more story
Allow me to share one more experience.
Let me sing you one more song
I'd like to sing One more song to reminisce our experiences.
Let's raise another glass to all our friends
Let's toast to all the friends who have been through this journey together.
Who've come along
Who've joined us in our expedition.
Let's talk about the way we were
Let's discuss the moments of our past.
And the way we're yet to be
Debating about the future possibilities.
And when you're walking towards tomorrow
When reflecting on the past and preparing for the future.
Keep a weather eye for me
Keep a lookout for me.
Writer(s): Michael Fix, Jeffrey Ronald Burton
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sandra
on One Truckie's Epitaph
My brother Terry Radke was the man Slim wrote the song for after he received a letter from Terry's youngest son, Lync. Thank you
Charley Boyter
on Axe Mark On a Gidgee
With horsebells to keep me company
Jake
on Your Country's Been Sold
You say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you
Our country’s been sold by the powers that be
To big wealthy nations way over the sea
We couldn’t be taken by bayonets or lead
And so they decided to buy us instead
And talking of wars and the blood that was spilled
The widows, the crippled, the ones that were killed
And I often wonder if their ghosts can see
What’s happening now to their native country
I wonder if ghosts of the fallen can see
The crime and corruption and vast poverty
With a lost generation of youth on the dole
Who drift on life’s ocean without any goal
I once had a dream of our country so grand
The rivers outback irrigated the land
With towns and canals in that wasteland out there
And big inland cities with work everywhere
With profit from farming and factory and mine
Was used to develop a nation so fine
Then I woke from my dream into reality
That the wealth of our nation goes over the sea
Yeah you say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you